Underage drinking

[RLENT]

Old enough to die for your country, old enough to vote and old enough to drink. OR, no one in the military under the age of 21. EVERYONE face the draft, gender is NO excuse.

Precisely my point ... although I failed to address the gender aspect.

If the nation is going to reserve the right to compel someone under the force of law to serve and possibly forfeit their life in defense of the nation, then it is only just that those who may be so compelled at some point, be able to enjoy all the rights and privileges of other citizens.

But most particularly ..... the right to vote.

 

[layoutshooter]

Precisely my point ... although I failed to address the gender aspect.

If the nation is going to reserve the right to compel someone under the force of law to serve and possibly forfeit their life in defense of the nation, then it is only just that those who may be so compelled at some point, be able to enjoy all the rights and privileges of other citizens.

But most particularly ..... the right to vote.

The is correct. My PERSONAL belief is that everyone, NO exceptions, should do two years of public service. That could be in the military but NOT restricted to military service. NO exceptions, NO deferments. I KNOW that will never happen and is not Constitutional. It is just my feeling that everyone should. I just believe that if a person is going to accept the freedoms that they should shoulder some of the burden and responsibility.

 

[Ragman]

My PERSONAL belief is that everyone, NO exceptions, should do two years of public service. That could be in the military but NOT restricted to military service. NO exceptions, NO deferments. I KNOW that will never happen and is not Constitutional.....

Don't say never. The constitution can be amended.

 

[layoutshooter]

Don't say never. The constitution can be amended.

That would be the only way that could happen. I doubt very much that we could ever get an amendment like that passed. Too many in this country suffer from the disease of "entitlitis". Far too many people today think they are "owed" and think that there is no need to "earn" their way through life.

 

[Ragman]

Far too many people today think they are "owed" and think that there is no need to "earn" their way through life.

I think I EARNED my right to be OWED.

 

[layoutshooter]

I think I EARNED my right to be OWED.

LOL!! I KNOW what you mean!!

 

[greg334]

Cheri,
How do you address the cultural issue with parents who serve their kids wine during a meal?

Isn't that the same thing or should we consider cultural issues like that off limits to the insane need to be a helicopter society?

 

[cheri1122]

Cheri,
How do you address the cultural issue with parents who serve their kids wine during a meal?

Isn't that the same thing or should we consider cultural issues like that off limits to the insane need to be a helicopter society?

To the best of my knowledge, parents who serve their children wine do so only in their own [or family/friend's] home, [usually watered], and that's nobody else's business.
And as you say, it's largely a cultural issue, hardly equal to enabling [spoiled] teens to 'party' however they wish.

 

[xiggi]

Don't forget many 18 y/o are seniors in High school. It would take a heck of a lot to convince me high school kids should be able to drink legally. I might add I was one of those in the 70's who could drink legally in the 12th grade.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

Unless the cops have a search warrant it is quite legal to drink at home..I am not saying binge or something like that...a beer with Dad during a football game say at 17 or 19..is NO harm....

from personal experience when I got caught intoxicated outside my home I was charged with "drunk in public"..they could not charge me with drinking as they never caught me in the act of drinking...and they can not assume that I was....as there are other ways to ingest alcohol...

 

[layoutshooter]

To the best of my knowledge, parents who serve their children wine do so only in their own [or family/friend's] home, [usually watered], and that's nobody else's business.
And as you say, it's largely a cultural issue, hardly equal to enabling [spoiled] teens to 'party' however they wish.

Parents, who serve wine with dinner, should not have to worry about the government interfering with them. Watered down? No self respecting Italian would EVER serve watered down wine. Serving up a drinking party to underage teens should be stomped on hard.

 

[cheri1122]

Parents, who serve wine with dinner, should not have to worry about the government interfering with them. Watered down? No self respecting Italian would EVER serve watered down wine.
My Mom's lifelong best friend was Italian, I went to a lot of large family dinners at her home, and wine served to the preteens was always watered down - they'd have gotten drunk otherwise. The teens never overindulged, either, so I think it was a healthy attitude towards drinking.
Serving up a drinking party to underage teens should be stomped on hard.

Totally agree. But the fact that drinking IS a big problem among college age folks says we're doing something wrong, no?

 

[EnglishLady]

My Mom's lifelong best friend was Italian, I went to a lot of large family dinners at her home, and wine served to the preteens was always watered down - they'd have gotten drunk otherwise. The teens never overindulged, either, so I think it was a healthy attitude towards drinking.
Totally agree. But the fact that drinking IS a big problem among college age folks says we're doing something wrong, no?

My sister tried this with her two children, my three had to wait until they were of age.

Her children were, well lets say very problematic with alcohol, whereas mine never were.
Maybe its in the makeup of the person?

 

[layoutshooter]

Totally agree. But the fact that drinking IS a big problem among college age folks says we're doing something wrong, no?

You can legislate all you want but it will never do any good. Kids are going to act up, drink etc no matter what we do. The best we can do in try to minimize the damage.

Part of the problem is unsupervised kids running around. They are often unsupervised at home and hardly at all in college.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

They have to learn to respect what booze can do...as in parental education..

 

[layoutshooter]

They have to learn to respect what booze can do...as in parental education..

Parents have to be home to be able to teach their kids. Far too many kids without any kind of supervision these days.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

Parents have to be home to be able to teach their kids. Far too many kids without any kind of supervision these days.

I made the time...as from experience I knew it would bite me in the butt someday...I still ended up with one boy now 25 a booze hound but the other 2 have things in order...without any encounters with the law...

 

[layoutshooter]

I made the time...as from experience I knew it would bite me in the butt someday...I still ended up with one boy now 25 a booze hound but the other 2 have things in order...without any encounters with the law...

Anything can go wrong but lack of supervision is a road map to disaster. Kids should be watched a much as possible. They should never have long hours without parental supervision.

 

[Brisco]

In Texas, it is legal for someone under 21 to drink alcohol under their parents supervision whether it be in private at their dinner table or at an establishment that serves alcohol. (Restaurant, Nite Club/Bar that allows under 21 in, a sporting event, etc)

Sec.106.04. CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL BY A MINOR
(a) A minor commits an offense if he consumes an alcoholic beverage.
(b) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this section that the alcoholic beverage was consumed in the visible presence of the minor's adult parent, guardian, or spouse.

TABC Alcoholic Beverage Code Referencing Minors

Parents get into trouble with the law when they serve alcohol to their childs "Friends". That's what comes into play when you hear the stories on the news about parents serving alcohol to minors. It's usually serving children other than their own that they're getting into trouble for.

My opinion, I'd like to see the drinking age raised to 25 all over the country. Also, I'd like the voting age raised to 21.

My exception is just like most here. If a guy/gal voluntarily joins the Military at age 18-25, then they should also have the right to consume alcohol. BUT, on base only, like at the NCO Club.

Big difference between "civilian" and "military" 18-25 year olds is that there's a lot more supervision when one is in the Military. Most "Privates" (E1's) through "Specialists" (E4"s) are supervised 24/7 in the Military, while the civilian 18-25 year olds run willy nilly at all times. If you compare the maturity level of a 20 year old that has 2 years Military service with the maturity level of a 25 year old who's run willy nilly since high school/college, you will find that probably the 20 year is much more mature when it comes to everyday "Life" decisions.

 

[greg334]

Maybe the problem with drinking isn't the issue of access but a issue with not having a parent teaching.